Senator Murray: “Young people belong at the table, their voices deserve to be heard, and their expertise must be incorporated into any national strategy we implement – and that is why this convening is so important.”
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks at the National Convening on Youth Homelessness Prevention. The convening is a part of the University of Chicago Chapin Hall’s initiative, New Opportunities, to draft a federal strategy on youth homelessness. The initiative is supported by two Seattle based foundations, the Campion Foundation and the Raikes Foundation. In her remarks, Senator Murray thanked the organizations for the work they do and reaffirmed her commitment to working with young adults to prevent youth homelessness.
“Working with the incredible organizations here, and meeting with these inspiring young adults, is critical for my work in the Senate because it’s your perspective and the stories of people on the ground in Washington state that I take back with me to the other Washington,” said Senator Murray. “Congress must do more, I know that. And I am absolutely pushing to go as big as we can go for housing and homelessness investments in the budget we’re currently negotiating.”
Senator Murray led the fight to secure more than $400 million in rental assistance, $170 million in homeowner assistance, and nearly $100 million for housing and services to support people experiencing homelessness in Washington state specifically in the American Rescue Plan that passed in March 2021. Last year, Senator Murray hosted a roundtable with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), and students from across the country who have experienced homelessness to discuss the importance of the $800 million that Senator Murray helped secure in the American Rescue Plan to support students experiencing homelessness. During the roundtable, Murray reiterated her commitment to ensure students experiencing homelessness not only get enrolled in school, but also receive the support and stability they need to succeed in the classroom.
Senator Murray has long led the charge to end youth homelessness in America and expand opportunity for children experiencing housing insecurity. She is the sponsor of the Affordable Housing for Educational Achievement Demonstration (AHEAD) Act, legislation to help address the many challenges that youth facing homelessness and housing insecurity must overcome as they pursue an education. In February, Senator Murray introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act to remove barriers and provide support to help students experiencing homelessness and students in foster care access and succeed in higher education.
Senator Murray’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
“Thank you Tricia Raikes and Dr. Ann Farrell for the kind introduction.
“I am honored to join you for this National Convening on Youth Homelessness Prevention.
“I would also like to give special thanks to Sonya Campion and everyone at the Campion Foundation, Tricia Raikes and the Raikes Foundation, and Chapin Hall for their commitment to ending youth homelessness and their work on the New Opportunities initiative.
“This initiative is exactly the kind of collaboration we need to ensure young people have a roof over their head and a brighter path for their future.
“And it’s more important now than ever, as the number of youth experiencing homelessness continues to rise following this pandemic.
“We saw so many young adults face greater rates of housing insecurity and they now face even greater barriers.
“No one understands this better than the young adults who have experienced homelessness themselves.
“They belong at the table, their voices deserve to be heard, and their expertise must be incorporated into any national strategy we implement, and that is why this convening is so important.
“Preventing youth homelessness and lifting up those currently experiencing it requires a nationwide strategy, evidence and data to keep progress on track, and most importantly—it requires all of us working together.
“It is so inspiring to see organizations and local governments doing just that, and collaborating with young adults who have lived experience and invaluable insight.
“Homelessness is one of the most pressing issues communities in my home state of Washington are facing.
“As Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I am laser focused on doing everything we can to end homelessness in America.
“In 2016, I helped create the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program to expand funding for rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing for youth experiencing homelessness.
“And in every appropriations bill since, I have fought to expand the YHDP program and will continue to fight for its expansion.
“But when COVID-19 hit, it quickly became clear the resources we had in place were not enough for people facing homelessness.
“So I did everything I could to get the resources necessary to keep everyone safe during an incredibly difficult time.
“In the American Rescue Plan, I worked tirelessly to secure $800 million to support education for students experiencing homelessness, $400 million in rental assistance, $170 million in homeowner assistance, over 2,400 new Emergency Housing Vouchers in Washington state, and nearly $100 million for housing and services for people experiencing homeless in Washington state.
“And we secured a record $800 million nationally to help support the needs of students experiencing homelessness.
“Combined, these federal investments resulted in the largest eviction prevention effort in history.
“And I’ve continued pushing—including securing an important increase for the HUD Continuum of Care Program in FY 2022.
“I am also working to secure as much funding as possible in my position on the Labor, Health, and Human Services Subcommittee.
“We’ve seen how the Runaway and Homeless Youth program has saved lives, whether it’s conducting critical community outreach, or running countless drop-in centers—which is why we need to keep investing in this lifeline.
“I have also introduced legislation to help our young people in crisis as well, like the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless Foster Youth Act—a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would remove barriers and help students experiencing homelessness, or in foster care, access and afford higher education.
“And I am the lead sponsor of the Affordable Housing for Educational Achievement Demonstration Act—which would incentivize housing authorities and school districts to come together to prevent homelessness, and support educational success for all students and I will continue to build partnerships to serve and meet the needs of anyone experiencing homelessness.
“We have achieved so much in the past few years, but there is also so much more we can and must do.
“Working with the incredible organizations here, and meeting with these inspiring young adults, is critical for my work in the Senate because it’s your perspective and the stories of people on the ground in Washington state that I take back with me to the other Washington.
“Congress must do more, I know that. And I am absolutely pushing to go as big as we can go for housing and homelessness investments in the budget we’re currently negotiating.
“Housing saves lives—we see that every day in the work you all do.
“Everyone should be able to afford a rent or a mortgage—and I believe so strongly that no one should ever have to go without a roof over their head.
“Because our youth—everyone, really—should be able to dream about, and plan for their future, the schools they want to go to, the careers they want pursue, the change they want to make in their communities without having to worry about the basics they need today, like where they will sleep at night, where they will get their next meal, or where to turn for the health care they need.
“So I’m going to continue working to address all of those challenges, and that includes lifting up the voices of people like all of you, and getting more support to efforts like this—which are doing so much good on the ground in our communities.
“Thank you again for what you do and for inviting me to speak today.
“I’m looking forward to hearing from you about what more we can do at the federal level to focus on prevention—and how we can partner together on those efforts.
“Rest assured that I will always be a voice in any room, at any negotiating table, fighting to get the resources we need to end homelessness in America.”
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